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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MA(N  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  institute  for  (Historical  IVIicroreproductions  Institut  canadien  de  microreproductions  historiques 


1980 


i 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  <Jttempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliugraphically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  biblioyraphique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduits,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mdthode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu^s  ci  dessous. 


0 


D 


□ 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagee 


□    Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurSe  et/ou  pellicul^e 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  g^ographiques  en  couleur 


□    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

□    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
o|ar 


inches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
— !    along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  int^rieure 


Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout^es 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possiole,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  filmdes. 


D 
D 

D 


D 
D 
□ 


D 


D 


Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag6es 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur^es  et/ou  pellicul^es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d^color^es,  tachet^es  ou  piqu^es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  detachees 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Quality  in^gale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  film^es  ci  nouveau  de  facon  ct 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


D 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl^mentaires: 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmd  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqud  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


SOX 


7 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


Tho  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Izaak  Walton  Killam  Memorial  Library 
Dalhousie  University 


L'exemplaire  filmd  fut  reproduit  grSce  d  la 
g^n^rosit^  de: 

Izaak  yValton  Killam  Memorial  Library 
Dalhousie  University 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet^  de  l'exemplaire  filmd,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres 
sion,  or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, ar  '  ' '^ding  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illust!uC<:^d  in   .session. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  ert  imprim^e  sont  film^s  en  commen9ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmds  en  commengant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
fii  n^s  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diff6rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  film6  i  partir 
de  Tangle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m^thode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

H/ 


1B&7. 


I  t  I  I    I  I    I  I   I  I   I  I    I  I   I  I    I  I    I  I    I  I   I  I   I  1    I  I   I  I    I  I    I  I    I  I    I  H ■♦••<-♦•  I  I   I  I   I  t   I  I    I  I    I  I    I  I    I  I   I  I    I  >   I  !■  I  t    I  I   I  I   >!■  I  >  I  >   I  !■  !  >   I  I   I  I  I  I    I  I    I  I   I  I   I  I   I  I    I  I    I  t   I  t   I  I   t  I 


The  SaultSte.  Marie  Canal 


nillllMII''lllllllltlll>ltll-t-»-l>t>lt->  ♦"M-H   t  »   I  I   t'l  <■!<■><>  I' KM   i  t   I  >■  I  I  -(->■  I  >   >  t-M-  1  I-  I  »  I  )-t-y  M    I  I    I  H  I  I   I  I    !  I    I  1    i  I  i  t  <  H  »-H 


PCBblSHKD  tJNDSR  THK  AUSPI0K8  OF 


THE  DULUTH  CHAMBER  OF  COMMERCE. 


THE 


IMPROVEMENT 


OF   THE 


S/IULT  m.  la/lRIE  CflNflL, 


LETTKU  OF 


FRANCIS  ALMY,  Esq.,  of  BufTalo,  N.  Y., 


(Secretary  of  the  Lake  Curi-icrs'  Asscx-iatioii) 


-TO— 


HON.  JOHN  M.  FARQUHAR,  M.  C. 


Publislied  under  the  Kii.-ipiee.s  of  the 


DULUTH  ClIAMBRR  OF  COMMERCE. 


DrLUTH,  MIXN. 

IJULUTH  NEWS  CO.  I'lUNT. 

1887. 


O  F  F I C  i:  Isi  H 


OF  TIIK 


Duluth  Chaml)er  of  Commerce, 


I'HKSIDKNT, 

O.  H.  SIMONDS. 


VICE  I'HKSIDKNT, 

(1.  (i.  HAIITLEV 


SECHETAKY, 

WILLIAM  F,  PHELPS. 


TKEASUREK, 

J.  R.  MYEKS. 


DIRECTORS: 

M.  R.  BALDWIN.  1).  G.  CASH.  A.  S.  CHASE. 

THOS.  CULLYFORI).  (\  A.  DUNCAN. 

J.  li.  SUTPHIN.  C.  H.  (iRAVES.  G.  G.  HARTLEY. 

D.  N.  HAYS.  T.  W.  HUGO. 

C.  F.  JOHNSON.  C.  A.  LOUNSBERRY.  J.  R.  MYERS. 

E.  V.  MUNDY.  R.  S.  MUNGER. 

W.  W.  PEARSON.  J.  T.  ROSE.  A.  N.  SEIP. 

J.  SEVILLE.  C.  E.  SHANNON. 

O.  H.  SIMONDS.  B.  SILBERSTEIN.  O.  P.  STEARNS. 


EXPLANATORY  NOTE. 


ClIAMIil'K  OF  COMMI-RCi;. 

SECRETAr^Y'S  OFFICE. 

Dri.iTU,  Minx.,  May ','1,  18H7. 

Tlie  stiitcmeiits  In  ilie  following  piiKCs,  "showing  the  proseiit  oonditloii,  growth  mid 
re<|iiIrtMiu'iits  of  llie  comnu'rce  from  Lake  .Siijierlorby  tlic  lower  lakes,""  were  prepared, 
Jaminry  last,  in  the  form  of  a  letter,  to  the  Hon.  John  M.  F'arciiihar,  memher  of  Congress 
from  Buffalo,  X.  Y.,  by  Fraiii'is  ,\lniy,  Es(|.,  Sec-retary  of  the  Lake  Carrier's  Association  of 
thai  city,  for  the  information  of  the  Conimittee  on  ifivers  and  llarliors  of  the  two  Honses 
respeetively.  A  copy  of  the  letter  liaving  l)eeii  kindly  forwarded  hy  the  antlior  to  the 
tindersigr.ed,  and  by  him  read  to  the  Hoard  of  Dire('tor.s  of  t)ie  Dnlnth  f'haml)er  of  Com- 
merce, its  facts  and  figures  were  deemed  so  important  in  view  of  the  Con- 
venlion  of  the  Coninierclal  organizations  interested  in  the  nnotistrncted  inivigation  of 
the  great  lakes  to  l)e  held  at  the  Sanlt  Ste.  Marie  Jtdy  2()th,  that  liy  a  unanimous  vote,  'AIHKI 
copies  were  ordered  printed  in  pamphlet  form  for  the  information  of  the  delegates  and  for 
general  di.stribution.  In  'jo;iseiiting  to  the  publicati(m.  Secretary  Almy  interposed  the 
condition  that  It  should  be  stated  that  "tlie  letter  represents  but  little  original  work,  being 
simply  a  .•onii)ilatlon  from  various  sources,  and  mainly  from  the  otlicial  reports  and  other 
papers  of  Gen.  ().  M.  I'oe  of  the  rnited  states  Kngineers,  in  charge  of  tlie  improvemeius 
at  the  Sanlt  Ste.  Marie  river."" 

It  was  believed  that  a  careful  perusal  of  the  statemeiUs  by  the  delegates  prior  to  the 
meeting  of  the  Convention  would  tliorougldy  prepare  tliem  to  take  siu'h  action  as  the 
"condition,  growth  and  rui|uirements  of  commerce""  demand. 

M'lLLIAM  F.  PIIELl'S,  Secretary. 


Secretary   Almy's   Letter, 


Buffalo,  Junuarj- 13,  1887. 
Hon.  .Joun  M.  Faiu^uhak,  WnsliiiiKton,  1).  (.'. 

8itt;— Mr.  C'lilihvill  liiis  iiskeil  ine  to  jnepare  iiikI  send  to  you  as  per  your  roiiui-'^l  ti» 
hliii,  a  stiiteiiieiit  showiiiK  tlie  iireseiit  eotnlitiou,  growth  and  requirements  of  the  C'om- 
iiierce  from  Lake  Superior  hy  ilu*  lower  lakes. 

Tlie  through  commeree  from  Lake  SuiKrrlor  is  couvenieutly  measured  Iiy  the  ship- 
ments through  the  St.  Mary's  Falls  Canal,  eonnet^ting  Lakes  Superior  and  Huron,  Hn<l  its 
volume  is  affected  by  the  eouvoniences  tliere  afforded.  This  canal  is  about  a  mile  in 
length  and  the  fall  from  lake  to  lake  is  IS  feet.  Tlie  o'd  locks  built  in  IH.")."),  were  two  in 
numl)er,  eacli  7I>  feet  wide  and  ;i")ll  feel  long  between  gates,  an<l  could  not  as  a  rule 
accommodate  vessels  drawing  more  than  11 '/i  feet.  There  passed  through  the  lanal 
in  the  first  year  a  trllle  over  1(X),()00  tons  of  freight.  In  18«l),  five  years  later,  this  luid 
increased  to  400,(100.  In  IHC")  it  was  about  tlic  sanu-;  in  1870,  700,000;  in  1875,  I,'.'(M1,0(X);  and 
in  18H0,  l,r.")0,Oi)0  tons.  Tlie  proi>erty  was  tlien  transferred  by  the  State  of  Micliigan  to  tlie 
L'nited  States,  and  tlie  present  lock  was  first  opened  for  use  September  1,  1881.  This  is  n 
magnilicenf  structure,  80  feet  wide,  but  narrowing  to  (!')  feet  at  the  gates,  with  a  lengtli  of 
515  feet,  and  witli  17  feet  of  water  over  llie  miter  sills  at  tlie  ordinary  stage. 

The  freiglit  movement  increased  at  once  witli  tlie  new  accommodations,  and  in  W^:i 
only  11  per  cent  of  the  vessels  passing  through  (he  canal  were  sufficiently  small  so  tliat 
ttiey  could  have  gone  througli  ftie  old  locks,  tlie  only  ones  in  use  but  two  years  before.  In 
IHH-i  tlie  season's  tonnage  had  reached  ■.i,000,o;):)  tons,  in  18S5  it  liad  passed  3,000,(H)l).  and  in 
1880  (last  year)  it  was  considerably  over  4,5  M),i  GO. 

Tlie  number  of  vessels  passing  througli  the  lock  in  1  HSU  was  7,4i4,  an  increase  of  38 
per  cent  over  IM8."i.  Four  vessels  of  average  size  can  be  locked  tlirougli  togellier.  The 
average  time  consumed  in  a  lockage  is  one  hour.  So  that,  estimating  its  capacity  under 
the  most  favoraljle  conditions,  witli  vessels  of  convenient  size  arriving  up  and  down  in 
groups  of  four,  in  such  order  that  immediately  following  a  lockage  in  one  direction 
another  group  of  four  may  be  locked  tlirougli  on  the  return,  and  without  interruption  in 
the  movemeni,  night  or  day,  (Mj  vessels  might  be  locked  in  24  hours,  or  2,97t)  vessels  in 
a  month  of  31  days.  In  July  last  1,295  vessels  passed  through  tlie  lock.  Should  the  num- 
ber of  vesiels  continue  to  increase  iu  the  same  ratio  as  this  last  season,  in  thtee  years  the 


i\ 


\» 


\» 


nl)ovp  aliiioniml  oii|>ii(liy  iilloHanrc'  will  hiivc  Ik'Cii  pxci'i-ili-il.  The  prRcllfiil  working 
t'Mimclly  of  llif  lock  will  liiivf  hj'cii  rciK^lictl  siioiiiT,  Fur  It  iiiiisl  he  icmcmlii'n'il  timt  in 
prnctico  tho  vessels  will  not  iirrlvt'  iiiilforinly.  Not  only  will  llic  conimcrcf  iit  certain  sca- 
noiiH  he  Krenter  tliiiii  iit  others,  hut  owlnK  to  the  fiict  thitt  the  iiiiviKiUioit  liy  iiiKht  hcluw  the 
Httiili  Ih  liiip<issililc  at  pn'scnt,  iiiid  will  he  for  seven  yeiirs  certiilnly,  or  until  the  lliiy  Lake 
chiiniicl  iinj>rovcnients  can  he  coniiilcieil,  llierc  Is  always  a  scarcity  of  hoats  ilurinj;  the 
niKht,  and  a  Krcat  accumiilntlon  of  hnats  awaitiuK  lockage  in  Ihc  morning.  So  that, 
taking  tlie  practical  workiuK  capacity  of  the  lock,  it  will  he  reached  In  IHHH,  should  the 
uuniher  of  vessels  Increase  in  this  seasiwi's  ratio. 

It  Is  not  prohahle,  of  cour>c,  that  the  nuiiiher  of  vessels  will  so  largely  Increase.  The 
tendency  is  rallier  to  increase  in  size  tlnm  In  imnilier  of  vessels.  In  18Ki  a  less  num- 
licr  of  vessels  i)asscd  tliroUKli  the  lock  than  in  1S8I,  ihouKh  they  carried  13  per  cent  more 
frel>?lit.  Yet  lakhiK  llie  vessel  passages  for  a  series  of  six  years,  in  this  time  they  have 
more  tlnin  douhled,  and  at  the  same  rate  we  might  expeet  a  blockade  in  ahout  six  years 
henee,  under  tho  most  favorable  conditions. 

In  his  report  for  IHHI.  dm.  ().  M.  I'oc,  of  Detroit,  Lieut.  Pol.  of  U.  S.  RuKlnecrs,  In 
charKeof  these  improvements,  reconimendeil  anew  lock,  on  the  site  of  the  old  ones,  71)  feet 
In  width,  70()  feet  In  length,  and  81  feet  of  water  on  ilie  miter  sills.*  (These  dimensions  he 
holds  subject  to  revision).  This  lock  would  be  used  In  connection  with  the  present  new 
one,  which  Is  all  that  can  he  deslreil  for  no  Krcatcr  drangiit  than  17  feet.  (Jon.  I'oe  estl- 
nnitcstlie  cost  of  the  proposed  new  lock  at  +l,TiKi,(>iM).  Of  this  amount  |'i,")(),0(K)  was  appro- 
priated by  the  Rivr  and  Harbor  Act  approved  August  5,  1HH().  The  Improvement,  with 
sutliclent  api)ropriatlons,  can  bo  completed  by  1H9I,  and  this  Is  none  too  .soon,  as  Is  shown 
liy  the  precedint;  estimates.  It  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that  Congress  should  make 
annual  appropriations  fur  tlie  next  two  or  three  years,  of  !B.">^Hl,l»i)0,  or  more,  as  Gen.  Poe 
may  desire. 

T  attach  a  statement  showing  the  commerce  through  the  cajud,  in  total,  and  In  detail 
for  the  more  important  classes  of  freiglit,  for  tlie  years  iHHa,  1S.SJ,  IHS),  las.'i  and  IHKU,  the 
years  during  which  it  has  been  under  (Jovernment  (-oiitrol. 

The  blo(!kade  to  commerce  which  would  ensue  shouhl  any  aceldeni;  happen  to  the 
present  lock  liefore  tlie  new  one  is  completed,  is  sometliing  a|>palling  to  think  of.  The 
injury  arising  from  tiie  carrying  away  of  the  lower  gates  (the  accident  most  to  be  feared) 
and  tlie  consequent  pouring  tlirough  the  lock  of  the  great  volume  of  water  under  a  head  of  18 
feet,  might  tic  so  great,  (Jen.  Poe  says,  as  to  close  the  canal  for  the  renuiinder  of  the  sea- 
son. It  is  of  value  to  stnte  briefly  what  this  would  mean.  Taking  the  figures  of  last  sea- 
son, namely  four  and  one  half  niilliiiii  tons,  tliis  ainoniu  would  have  to  be  transferred 
from  vessel  to  vessel,  above  and  below  the  lock.  Leaving  out  of  account  the  lost  time  to 
the  vessels  through  neoes-iary  delay  In  making  connections,  etc.,  the  simple  portage,  out 
of  one  vessel  across  the  lock  and  on  to  another  vessel,  would  cost,  at  a  very  low  estimate, 
70  cents  per  ton.  Tills  on  last  season's  slii|>meiits  wonUl  nictm  |;i, ltl!),4.'ll,  or  over  $^Kin,000 
per  month.  Practically  a  jiorlage  on  such  a  scale  wonhl  be  an  Impossibility,  and  the 
freight  would  have  to  seek  otlier  routes.  Tiie  freight  from  the  Northwest  could  go  by  lake 
from  Cliicago.  This  at  the  lowest  possible  figure  would  add  2ii  cents  per  100  Ib.s.  to  the 
freight.  For  the  sliipments  from  and  to  loccl  Lake  Superior  i)olnts— the  copper,  iron  ore, 
lumber,  eoal,  etc.— the  increase  In  rate  would  be  mueh  larger.  Estimating  all  the  freight 
at  2' i  cents  increase  In  rate,  this  on  the  season's  shipments  would  amount  toi!2,8(!;i,H79or  over 


♦These  dimensions  have  since  be^n  changed  to  103  feet  and  8X(  feet  respectively,    w.  k. 


JSiM^coo  |icr  iiKinth.  Tlicw  HKurcs  arc  fo.'  last  yenr'H  MlilpmentH.  For  lliiM  year  llu'v  would 
1)1)  Hllll  larger.  Willi  siicli  Iih'In  In  iiiIimI  II  Is  l!n|iossll)lc  llwil  any  our  coiiM  i|iilt»Mi' oviT 
ihe  llircf  H|>|iroi>rlutloiis  of  $5(H»,()ii()  per  year  now  lU'fiU'il  lu  coinpli'li!  Iho  new  lock. 

The  value  of  the  frt-lnht  pasnliiK  throiiKli  the  canal  in  IKHS  U  estlnmtcd  at  ii«W,()(HV)<lO 
The  value  of  lam  year's  fthipmoiitH  inuHt  have  heeu  nearly  »7(t,n(K),0(M>. 

There  can  lianlly  l>c  any  <|U<'silon  at  llils  ilay  as  lo  ilic  national  chara<>lcr  of  thin 
artlllclal  wal<'r  way.  1.  lies,  however,  cnllrdy  within  llic  Mate  of  Mlchlnan,  s  >  ll  may  lie 
of  Iniercsi  losiiiic  Ih'il  In  Imh')  (IIh- ll),'m"«  Cor  IHHtl  are  not  yet  ohliiliialile)  the  interest  of 

MichlKan  in  Ihe  coniineree 
thioimli  the  (Miiiil  WM>  liiil  IH 
per  cent.  «»f  ihe  cnornions 
aniounis  of  wheal,  Hour  aiio 
coal  which  pass  throiiKh  the 
cannl,  not  one  |)onn(l  Is  Ihe 
product  of  MichlKaii. 

.\iiollicr  very  hiiportani  Ini- 
provenient  which  slioulil  he 
considered  lu  this  eonueetlon 
Islhalofihe  Hay  Lakechannel 
In  the  Sanlt  Sic.  Marie  river. 
This  clianncl,  as  shown  in  Ihe 
lilllc  niiip  hcicwiih,  would 
atl'ord  a  nmch  less  circuitous 
route  for  the  <'onMnerce  he- 
IwceuLakeSuperioi  ainl  Lake 
Huron  than  that  now  in  use. 
It  shortens  the  distance  be- 
tween the  two  lakes  eleven 
miles  out  of  sixty,  hul  what 
is  of  far  more  iniporliincc, 
when  the  iniproveineuts  coii- 
lemplated  shall  have  been 
matle,  il  will  allow  Ihc  i)assane 
of  vessels  drawiiif,'  'JD  feet  of 
water,  and  will  atlord  a  route 
navlKiilile  hy  ulnht,  which  is 
imposNihle  by  Ihe  present 
route,  (icii.  I'oe  estimates  the 
cost  of  tills  improvement  as 
not  exceeding  *2, (159, 11.1.    Three  appropriations  have  been  made  for  Ihe  work  as  follows: 

By  Act  of  C'ouKress,  Approved  AiiRusI  -J,  \HH-i |3lK),0(H) 

By  Act  of  C'ouKress,  Aitproved  July  .-S,  18f^ liVIKK) 

Hy  Act  of  Congress,  .\pproved  .VukpsI  ."),  1HM»! 1,5(),(KK) 

The  extent  of  the  line  is  some  15  miles,  so  that,  with  siitticieut  appropriations,  simul- 
tttueoiis  work  could  be  <loiie  over  a  huge  area.  As  yet  the  approintalious  have  been  too 
small  to  allow  eti'ective  work.  ( ieii.  I'oe  nsked  for  $5()0,0(K)  last  season  and  received  $15'»,00(). 
Even  with  the  large  appropriations  desired  the  work  cannot  be  completed  for  seven  years, 


MATTHr**,    hDWIfPiiP    4    C  J    , 


I         ' 


Mil. I,  US  (it'll.  I'lie  hiiH  poliitt'doiit,  III)  part  of  the  liii|.r(.vciiu'nt  will  heii iivalliil.l.'  until 

till-  wiM.lf  Is  IIiiInIu'iI.  Thcvnliu'  of  this  work  you  will  n'mllly  sec,  ninllt  Isns  truly  nutloiml 
In  churiictfr  iix  the  lock  of  Ihc  Snnll.  I  hoi>c  that  thciircsenl  CoiiKress  ulll  show  a  more 
realizing  ymunv  of  Its  liii|>orla!ice. 

There  are  one  or  iwo  Boiiernl  points  eonneetcd  with  the  coi crcc  of  the  lakes  which 

yim  may  fin. 1  of  li.terest.  Yon  perhaps  do  not  know  that  the  dr.lly  toiiimne  throiiKh  the 
Huiilt  canal  Is  larger  than  that  through  the  Kieai  Suez  canal.  In  .Inly,  IHHtl,  the  only  month  for 
which  I  have  flKiires  for  hoth  canals,  the  Sue/  canal  shipmeiitH  were  WH,(iri  ollichil  n.'t 
Ions.  The  toniuiKe  throtigh  the  Hanlt  canal  f.ir  the  same  perlo.l  was  5(il,i«H  tons,  ..r  an 
excess  of  .■«,.').'>;  to.is  f.ir  the  m.nith.  The  sliipnients  thr.Minh  the  Saiilt  caiiMl  for  the  season 
of  1HM()  averaKc.l  ahunt  11»,()M«  tons  jter  day.  The  shipments  ihroiiKli  the  S\icz  canal  for  IMHI 
( 1  have  no  later  flKures)  were  S,H71.5lKt  tons  for  the  ;iOo  days,  or  un  iiveraKeof  llUlHr  pi  r  day. 
Yon  can  easily  l.riiiK  these  flKurcs  up  to  date. 

Comparing  the  Co erce  of  the  Rreal  lakes  with  onr  other  dome.stic  coinniereo.  In 

IhH-1,  :ii<,74-i  rnile.l  States  vessels,  represenliiin  lH,(iiri,iMO  tons,  passed  IhroiiKh  the  Detroit 
river.  In  luldltiou  to  this  theie  were  <',,(iai  Canadian  vessels,  representiiiK  l,eil,lM»  tons,  so 
that  the  t.>tal  commerce  thioiiKli  the  river  was  46.»J9  vessels,  or  10,(i-l."),aTl  tons,  heiiiK  tlve 
times  llie  c.iinhine.l  toiimiKe  .if  the  Mississippi  and  Ohio  rivers  f.ir  the  same  perlo.l.  Yet 
the  ai.propriations  from  CoiiKiess  from  l^'rtl  to  \HK\  were  nine  million  dollars  for  the  Kreat 
lakes,  coverinj;  rivers  and  harhors,  harhors  of  refiiKe,  hreakwaters,  canals,  locks,  etc.,  from 
I'laltshurK  on  the  St.  I.awrcn.  e  to  Chicano  and  Dnlntli,  and  inclii.linK  Ihc  lock  at  tlic  Sanlt 
an.l  the  Lime  Kiln  Iminovements  in  the  Detroit  river,  and  twenty-live  millions  dnriiiK  the 
same  ten  years  for  the  Mississijipi- alone.  I  assume  that  from  the  records  available  at 
Washlugtoii  y.m  can  rea.lily  hrinn  these  figures  to  date. 

The  main  part  of  the  infornnitk)n  herein  furnished  is  collected  from  various  reports, 
letters  and  statements  of  (ien.  O.  M.  Poe,  I.ient.  Col.  of  r.  S.  Kngineers  at  Detroit. 

.\ny  further  information  which  i  ca-i  furnish  or  can  ol.tain  fur  you  1  will  he  very 
Klad  to,  if  called  uiion.  Yours  respectfully, 

FHANCIS  ALMY,  Secretary. 


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